MURRIETA: 3 U-Haul trucks burn; arson suspected

Authorities ask anyone with information to call Detective John Therien at 951-461-6346 or Sgt. Phil Gomez at 951-461-6356. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call 1-800-78-CRIME

Thieves who stole fuel from three U-Haul trucks -- an act that police say likely sparked a blaze -- are wanted by Murrieta authorities.

Officers responded Sunday, Oct. 11, to a report of one moving truck on fire at Guava Street Self-Storage about 10:25 p.m. and arrived to find two additional trucks burning, Murrieta police said in a news release. Murrieta firefighters extinguished the flames and discovered evidence of arson.

A preliminary investigation revealed that holes had been drilled in the gas tanks of all three trucks and fuel was stolen, likely to start the fire, the release said.

The investigation found that fire was set to only one truck and spread to the other two. Police said all of the trucks were significantly damaged.

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